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EP-4740783-A1 - PACKING ORGANIZER FOR USE WITH A LUGGAGE CASE

EP4740783A1EP 4740783 A1EP4740783 A1EP 4740783A1EP-4740783-A1

Abstract

A packing organizer 200 for use inside a luggage case 102. The packing organizer 200 includes a first compartment 203 and a separate second compartment 206, each compartment defining an interior volume 240, and each compartment 203, 206 defining a selectively openable lid 226 to allow access to each compartment's respective internal volume 240. A hinge 210 is fixedly attached to or removably attached to the first compartment 203 and the second compartment 206 to allow relative movement between the first compartment 203 and the second compartment 206 about the hinge 210; the first and second compartments 203,206 movable about the hinge 210 between a first configuration 302 where the compartments 203, 206 are folded to overlie each other, and a second configuration 304 where the first and second compartments 203, 206 are unfolded and positioned side by side next to one another in an extended position. The packing organizer 200 may be positioned in a luggage case 102 in a variety of orientations and locations to assist a user in efficiently packing a luggage case.

Inventors

  • MICHIELI, Giorgio

Assignees

  • Samsonite IP Holdings S.à r.l.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241108

Claims (15)

  1. A packing organizer (200) for use inside a luggage case (102) comprising: A first compartment (203) and a separate second compartment (206) each defining: an interior volume (240), and each compartment (203, 206) defining a selectively openable lid (226) to allow access to each compartment's respective internal volume (240); a hinge (210) connecting the first compartment (203) to the second compartment (206) to allow relative movement between the first compartment (203) and the second compartment (206) about the hinge (210); the first and second compartments (203,206) movable about the hinge (210) between a first configuration (302) where the compartments (203, 206) are folded to overlie on top of each other; and a second configuration (304) where the first compartment (203) and second compartment (206) are unfolded and positioned side by side next to one another.
  2. The packing organizer of claim 1, wherein: each compartment (203, 206) is defined by opposing major panels (230) and a plurality of side panels (232) attaching the major panels (230) to form the internal volume (240); and wherein in each respective compartment (203, 206) one of the opposing major panels (230) forms the lid (226).
  3. The packing organizer of claims 1 or 2, wherein in the first configuration (302) the respective lids (226) engage one another and a side panel (232) of each of the first and second compartments coupled to the hinge (210) extend to generally form a plane relative to one another.
  4. The packing organizer of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein in the second configuration (304) the lids (226) generally define a plane relative to one another and a side panel (232) of each of the first (203) and second (206) compartments coupled to the hinge (210) engage each other.
  5. The packing organizer of any of the preceding claims, wherein: the hinge (210) is a flexible member (250); one edge (222) of the hinge (210) is coupled adjacent a top edge (228) of a side panel (232) on the first compartment (203); an opposing edge (244) of the hinge (210) is coupled to a top edge (246) of a side panel (232) on the second compartment (206), and wherein the respective lid (226) of each of the first (203) and second (206) compartments is coupled to the respective compartment along at least part of the length of the hinge (210).
  6. The packing organizer of any of the preceding claims, wherein: The lid for each respective compartment selectively couples along a top edge of three adjacent side panels (232) by a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a snap fastener, or a releasable clasp for controlling access to the internal volume.
  7. The packing organizer of any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first compartment (203) and the second compartment (206) include a flexible handle (250).
  8. The packing organizer of claim 7, wherein the at least one handle (250) is secured adjacent a long edge (238) of a major panel (226) opposite a long edge to which a hinge (210) is adjacent of the respective compartment (203, 206).
  9. A luggage case system including the packing organizer of any of the preceding claims, wherein a luggage case (102) comprises at least one shell (116, 118) defining opposing end walls (108, 110), opposing sidewalls (112, 114), and a base wall (104, 106) that together define a cavity (152), the cavity having a height (LSH), length (LSL) and width dimensions (LSW), and wherein: the packing organizer (200) is positioned within the cavity (152) in either the first configuration (302) or the second configuration (304).
  10. The luggage case system of claim 9, further comprising a front panel hingedly attached to the shell (116 or 118) to allow access to the cavity (152).
  11. The luggage case system of claim 9 or 10, wherein the luggage case (102) comprises two shells (116, 118), each shell (116, 118) having a cavity (152).
  12. A luggage case system as defined in any of claims 9, 10, or 11, wherein: in the first configuration (302) the packing organizer (200) takes up more of the height dimension (LSH) and less of the length dimension (LSL) compared to the second configuration (304), and in the second configuration (304) the packing organizer (200) takes up more of the length dimension (LSL) and less of the height dimension (LSH) compared to the first configuration (302).
  13. A luggage system as defined in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein in the second configuration (302) the packing organizer (200) may be positioned on a base wall (104, 106) of the cavity (152) and below at least some of any other articles (50) positioned therein.
  14. A luggage system as defined in any of claims 9 to 13, wherein in the second configuration (302) the packing organizer (200) may be positioned on top of at least some of the other articles (50) positioned in the cavity (152) as a divider panel and preferably engaged by a compression device (160) mounted on the shell (116, 118) to compress the articles (50) and the packing organizer (200).
  15. A luggage system as defined in any of claims 9 to 14, wherein in both the first configuration (302) and the second configuration (304) the packing organizer (200) extends across the entire width dimension (LSW) of the cavity (152).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to packing organizers for use with luggage cases. BACKGROUND Inefficiently packing articles in a luggage case or disorganized packing of articles in a luggage case can result in reducing the effective volume of the luggage case, which in turn can result in requiring the use of additional luggage articles. Using more luggage cases than are needed for a trip can result in increased fees for checked luggage, the attendant risk of losing luggage, and create the inconvenience of handling more luggage cases while traveling. Efficiently packing a luggage case requires experience in the folding and placement of garments, shoes, travel accessories, in an organized manner within the internal compartment of a luggage case, and the ability to repeat the strategy consistently during a trip with many stop-overs. To ease the complications of packing a luggage case to efficiently utilize the internal compartment, improved packing organizers are desired that are simple to use and reconfigurable based on the size and shape of all the cases to be packed within the internal compartment of a luggage case. SUMMARY A packing organizer for use in a luggage case is disclosed. In one embodiment the packing organizer includes a first compartment and a separate second compartment each defining an interior volume, and each compartment defining a selectively openable lid to allow access to each compartment's respective internal volume. A hinge connects the first compartment to the second compartment to allow relative movement between the first compartment and the second compartment about the hinge. The first and second compartments are movable about the hinge between a first configuration where the compartments are folded to overlie on top of each other and a second configuration where the first compartment and second compartment are unfolded and positioned side by side next to one another. The reconfigurable shape of the packing organizer allow it to fit into luggage cases in a variety of ways to aid in efficient packing the luggage case. Additionally, each compartment may be defined by opposing major panels and a plurality of side panels attaching the major panels to form the internal volume, and wherein in each respective compartment one of the opposing major panels forms the lid. The lid allows controlled access to the cavity. Additionally or alternatively, in the first configuration the respective lids engage one another and a side panel of each of the first and second compartments coupled to the hinge extend to generally form a plane relative to one another. In this configuration the packing organizer is thicker than it is long, and fits into a luggage case to take up more of the depth of the luggage case and less of the length of the luggage case. The packing organizer may extend across part of or all of the width of the luggage case. Additionally or alternatively, in the second configuration the lids generally define a plane relative to one another and a side panel of each of the first and second compartments coupled to the hinge engage each other. The packing organizer in this configuration is longer than it is deep/thick, and thus takes up more of the length of the luggage case while taking up only a portion of the depth. The packing organizer may extend across part of or all of the width of the luggage case. In some examples, the lid includes a mesh material to allow the contents of the packing organizer to be seen through the lid, and/or to allow ventilation for the contents. Additionally or alternatively, the hinge is a flexible member, and one edge of the hinge is coupled adjacent a top edge of a side panel on the first compartment, and an opposing edge of the hinge is coupled to a top edge of a side panel on the second compartment. The respective lid of each of the first and second compartments is coupled to the respective compartment along at least part of the length of the hinge. The hinge location allows the packing container to fold in a manner that allows the lids to engage when in the first configuration, and form a substantially planar surface when in the extended second configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the lid for each respective compartment selectively couples along a top edge of three adjacent side panels by a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a snap fastener, or a releasable clasp for controlling access to the internal volume. Additionally or alternatively, the first configuration defines a thickness dimension, a length dimension, and a width dimension, and the second dimension defines a thickness dimension, a length dimension and a width dimension. The thickness dimension is greater than the thickness dimension in the second configuration, and a length dimension is less than the length dimension in the second configuration. These relative dimensions allow the packing organizer to be utilized in at least two distinct configurations in a luggage case to help p